Jeremiah Nanai will miss the start of the NRL season through injury in a blow to North Queensland's hopes of recovering from a poor 2025.
But winger Murray Taulagi is expected to resume full training after Christmas despite leaving the field in the Pacific Cup final with a knee injury.
Queensland representative Nanai has undergone reconstructive surgery on the shoulder that he injured during Samoa's win over Tonga in late October.
The important forward will be absent as the Cowboys begin bouncing back from a 12th-placed finish that prompted questions over Todd Payten's future as coach.
The 22-year-old won't play in the Cowboys' Las Vegas season opener against Newcastle, with the club expecting to have a clearer timeline on his return date in the new year.
Samoan international Taulagi is expected to play round one as he nears recovery from his medial cruciate ligament injury.
Luckless forward Heilum Luki is also expected to play round one after missing the entire 2025 season with the second anterior cruciate ligament injury of his career.
The Cowboys begin 2026 with a handful of seemingly winnable games, with the Knights, Wests Tigers, Gold Coast and St George Illawarra awaiting across the first five rounds.
The club have welcomed Reed Mahoney as replacement for outgoing hooker Reece Robson; the former Canterbury captain began pre-season earlier this month.
Nanai's absence come a year after talismanic forward Jason Taumalolo injured his foot in the 2024 Pacific Championships and so missed the start of 2025.
Australian Associated Press
